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The ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus

University of Northampton

ABSTRACT

The nosocomial pathogenicity of enterococci has emerged in recent years, as well as increasing resistance to glycopeptides. Therefore understanding the ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus sp. as a species is paramount in limiting infections such as urinary tract infections, hepatobiliary sepsis, endocarditis, surgical wound infection, bacteraemia and neonatal sepsis and also further antibiotic resistance. Enterococci are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore forming, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which usually inhabit the alimentary tract of humans in addition to being isolated from environmental and animal sources. They are able to survive a range of stresses and hostile environments including those of extreme temperatures (5 ºC – 65ºC), pHs (4.5-10.5) and high NaCl concentrations enabling them to colonise a wide range of niches. Virulence factors of enterococci include extracellular proteins (esp) and aggregation substances (agg), both of which aid in its pathogenicity. The interactions, similarities and differences between Enterococcus sp. isolates from both food and clinical sources need to be reviewed to give a full appreciation of the role enterococci play in disease.

¹ E-mail: katie.fisher{at}northampton.ac.uk